tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73113415118146150712018-03-06T01:46:40.819-08:00Middletown Community ConversationsMiddletown Community Conversationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14961384066489685316noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7311341511814615071.post-4555818553407674492009-01-19T09:18:00.000-08:002009-01-19T09:23:33.469-08:00Sample Greeting and Discussion Guidelines<span style="font-weight: bold;">Suggested greeting for Jan 20th Community Conversation</span><br /><br />Good afternoon/evening on behalf of the organizers of the Middletown Community Conversation and (HOST ORGANIZATION) we wanted to welcome you all for joining us today.<br /><br />All across Middletown groups just like this one are coming together to focus on making this a better community for all. And in doing so we hope to allow all of our neighbors to come together and discuss opportunities, identify priorities, and generate new ideas on what’s next for Middletown as we enter this historic new chapter in our nation’s history books.<br /><br />To help us stimulate discussion we will provide some questions that we will share with you shortly as well as the opportunity to view President Obama’s inaugural address. However, before we do that I would just like to go over some housekeeping and set some ground rules.<br />(HOUSEKEEPING-note if food is available and that they should help themselves, note if you have name cards, where are the bathrooms???, hopefully you can create an email list-you may note that this is for follow up and will not be shared for any other purposes, add anything else you think might be helpful to ease people into the discussions and make them comfortable)<br /><br />As for some general guidelines, first we’d like to note that although the focus is on Middletown, we do not want to limit any idea from being shared, so if it includes something that is regional, state-wide or national please feel free to share. We also ask that we focus on solutions and although problems and concerns may come up in our discussions, let’s try to drive this conversation toward our individual and shared community assets and how they<br />can be deployed to make Middletown a better place.<br /><br />Additionally, and in keeping the end in mind, we want everyone to know that each conversation will be recorded and the information will be put into one collective document that will help us identify what’s next for this community. And finally, there are additional guidelines specific around sharing during our conversations but we will wait until after we watch the speech….so without further delay…(speech may be started here).<br /><br />The following guidelines may be shared as you are about to start the conversations….<br /><br />• Sharing is voluntary.<br />• We want to create a safe, loving, and respectful atmosphere.<br />• Sharing is about one's own feelings, experiences and perceptions, etc<br />• We are not always going to agree, or see everything the same way, and that's okay<br />• Each person has a right to and responsibility for his or her own feelings, thoughts and beliefs<br />• It is important to avoid criticism or judgment about another person's sharing and point of view of his/her feelings.<br />• Avoid debate and argument. It rarely changes anything or anyone, and tends to ultimately inhibit the sharing.<br />• All ideas are valuable.<br />• Refrain from singling out any individual as "representing " their group, gender, race, etc.<br />• It is important to give full attention to who ever is talking.<br />• Feelings are important<br />• No cross talking or debate<br />• No talking to person next to you while someone else is being talking.<br />• Hopefully, we will leave these meetings with a deeper sense of community and a renewed hope for the future of Middletown<br /><br /><br />MIDDLETOWN COMMUNITY CONVERSATIONS<br />JANUARY 20, 2009<br /><br />GUIDELINES FOR SHARING<br /><br />• SHARING IS VOLUNTARY.<br />• WE WANT TO CREATE A SAFE, LOVING, AND RESPECTFUL<br />ATMOSPHERE.<br />• SHARING IS ABOUT ONE'S OWN FEELINGS, EXPERIENCES AND<br />PERCEPTIONS, ETC<br />• WE ARE NOT ALWAYS GOING TO AGREE, OR SEE EVERYTHING THE<br />SAME WAY, AND THAT'S OKAY<br />• EACH PERSON HAS A RIGHT TO AND RESPONSIBILITY FOR HIS OR<br />HER OWN FEELINGS, THOUGHTS AND BELIEFS<br />• IT IS IMPORTANT TO AVOID CRITICISM OR JUDGMENT ABOUT<br />ANOTHER PERSON'S SHARING AND POINT OF VIEW OF HIS/HER<br />FEELINGS.<br />• AVOID DEBATE AND ARGUMENT. IT RARELY CHANGES ANYTHING<br />OR ANYONE, AND TENDS TO ULTIMATELY INHIBIT THE SHARING<br />• ALL IDEAS ARE VALUABLE.<br />• REFRAIN FROM SINGLING OUT ANY INDIVIDUAL AS "REPRESENTING " HIS OR HER GROUP.<br />• IT IS IMPORTANT TO GIVE FULL ATTENTION TO WHOEVER IS TALKING.<br />• FEELINGS ARE IMPORTANT<br />• NO CROSS TALKING OR DEBATE<br />• NO TALKING TO PERSON NEXT TO YOU WHILE SOMEONE ELSE IS<br />TALKING TO THE GROUP.<br />• HOPEFULLY, WE WILL LEAVE THESE MEETINGS WITH A DEEPER<br />SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND A RENEWED HOPE FOR THE FUTURE<br />OF MIDDLETOWNMiddletown Community Conversationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14961384066489685316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7311341511814615071.post-65847684426505500602009-01-19T09:03:00.000-08:002009-01-19T09:14:59.716-08:00Middletown Community Coversations, Sample Questions and Response FormMiddletown Community Conversations<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sample Questions and Response Form</span><br /><br />Several groups have asked for example facilitating questions with which to start their community conversations as well as an example of a response form to report out their conversation results.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sample Questions</span><br /><br />The following are two sets of three questions we found helpful.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">What important issue or idea was brought to mind by the Inaugural Address?</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">What can we, as a community, do about it?</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">What can you as an individual do about it? If “yes we can”, then what will I do?</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Related to what will “I do”, what can we do together?</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">What resources do we need to make this happen?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Conversation Reporting Form</span><br /><br />If you do not use this form, when you report back, please be sure to include:<br /><br />group/organization involved<br />location<br />date<br />time<br />number of participants.<br /><br />This information should be forwarded to Justin Carbonella at either his e‐mail address:<br /><br />carbonellaj@mps1.org<br /><br />Or mailed to:<br /><br />Justin Carbonella<br />Middletown Youth Services Bureau<br />370 Hunting Hill Avenue<br />Middletown, CT 06457<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Middletown Community Conversations Held<br /><br /></span>by(organization):_____________________________________________________<br />on (date &amp; time) ____________________<br />at (location)_________________________________<br />for (# of people)______________<br /><br />For each of the topics discussed, please report out topics noted below. For example, the issue is picking up after your dog; group solution might be install pooper scooper bag kiosks and signs as well as submit grant application to dog food companies for signs and kiosks; individual solution might be pick up after your own dog and encourage family and friends to do the same; resources would be signs and kiosks.<br /><br />Issue (please relate to Middletown): ____________________________________________________<br />____________________________________________________<br />____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________<br /><br />Solutions: What can we do? ____________________________________________________<br />____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________<br />____________________________________________________<br />____________________________________________________<br />____________________________________________________<br /><br />What can I do?__________________________________________<br />____________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________<br /><br /> Resources needed (if any):_________________________________________________<br />_____________________________________________________<br /><br /><br />Issue (please relate to Middletown):<br />_____________________________________________________<br />_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________<br />_____________________________________________________<br />_____________________________________________________<br />_____________________________________________________<br />_____________________________________________________<br /><br />Solutions: What can we do? _____________________________________________________<br />_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________<br />_____________________________________________________<br />_____________________________________________________<br />_____________________________________________________<br /><br />What can I do?___________________________________________<br />_____________________________________________________<br /> _____________________________________________________<br />_____________________________________________________<br />_____________________________________________________<br /><br />Resources needed (if any)__________________________________________________<br />_____________________________________________________<br /> _____________________________________________________<br />_____________________________________________________Middletown Community Conversationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14961384066489685316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7311341511814615071.post-65257729830911511442009-01-19T08:04:00.001-08:002009-01-19T08:08:00.119-08:00Inaugural Schedule as Provided to the Media (tentative)For hosts planning Middletown Community Conversation events. It looks as if Barack Obama will speak for about 20 minutes, beginning at 12:01 p.m.<br /><br /><br />9:00 AM VIPs begin arriving<br />Former Presidents<br />Governors<br />Members of the House of Representatives<br />United States Senators<br />Cabinet designees<br /><br />9:45 AM Platform seating begins<br /><br />11:03 AM Former Presidents announced and seated<br /><br />11:12AM Biden family announced and seated<br /><br />11:14AM Obama family announced and seated<br /><br />11:16AM Mrs. Bush and Mrs. Cheney announced and seated<br /><br />11:18AM Mrs. Obama and Dr. Biden announced and seated<br /><br />11:20AM President George W. Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney announced and seated<br /><br />11:22AM Vice President-elect Joe Biden announced and seated<br /><br />11:25AM President-elect Barack Obama is announced and seated<br /><br />11:30 AM Senator Feinstein delivers opening remarks<br /><br />11:34 AM Senator Feinstein introduces Pastor Rick Warren<br /><br />11:35 AM Invocation by Pastor Rick Warren<br /><br />11:37 AM Senator Feinstein introduces Aretha Franklin<br /><br />11:38 AM Aretha Franklin – “My Country Tis of Thee”<br /><br />11:42 AM Senator Feinstein introduces Senator Bennett<br /><br />11:44 AM Senator Bennett introduces Associate Justice Stevens<br /><br />11:46AM Vice Presidential Oath administered by Associate Justice Stevens<br /><br />11:47AM Senator Feinstein introduces performers<br /><br />11:48AM Yo-Yo Ma, Anthony McGill, Gabriela Montero, Itzhak Perlman –<br />“Air and Simple Gifts” composed by John Williams<br /><br />11:53AM Senator Feinstein introduces Chief Justice Roberts<br /><br />11:54AM Chief Justice and President-elect Barack Obama move to podium<br /><br />11:56AM The Presidential oath is administered.<br /><br />11:57AM Herald Trumpets perform 4 “Ruffles and Flourishes” and the U.S. Marine Corp<br />Band plays “Hail to the Chief.” Twenty one gun salute.<br /><br />11:58AM Senator Feinstein introduces the President<br /><br />12:01PM Inaugural address<br /><br />12:21PM Senator Feinstein introduces poet Elizabeth Alexander<br /><br />12:27PM Benediction given by Reverend Joseph Lowery<br /><br />12:31PM Presidential party departs from platform<br /><br />12:32 PM Departure ceremony<br /><br />12:36 PM President and Mrs. Bush depart from the East plaza in helicopter<br /><br />12:52 PM President’s Room signing ceremony<br /><br />1:05 PM Statuary Hall luncheon<br /><br />2:32 PM Review of the troops<br /><br />2:36 PM President and Mrs. Obama, and Vice President and Dr. Biden leaves with paradeMiddletown Community Conversationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14961384066489685316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7311341511814615071.post-90457447096435207442009-01-16T02:40:00.000-08:002009-01-19T09:01:53.468-08:00Locations for Community Conversations January 20Middletown Community Conversations<br />On January 20, 2009, please join your neighbors at one of the following conversation locations so that we can speak and listen to each other as we ask questions and find answers.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) </span><br />St. Pius Church, <br />310 Westfield Street<br />1:30 pm<br />Members welcome<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">American Association of University Women </span><br />Wesleyan Wasch Center, <br />51 Lawn Avenue<br />7:00 pm<br />Members and students<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dunkin Donuts @ South Main </span><br />South Main Street<br />7 pm<br />The public<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Eddy Shelter </span><br />The Connection Offices <br />955 South Main St.<br />11:30<br />Staff and clients<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">First Church &amp; Jonah Center</span><br />190 Church Street<br />6 pm<br />Open to the public<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Green Street</span><br />51 Green Street<br />noon<br />The public<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Healing Racism Coalition</span><br />Firehouse Steakhouse <br />412 Main St.<br />11:30am<br />The public<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Heritage Commons </span><br />38 Boston Rd<br />noon &amp; 8pm<br />HC residents, their families and interested seniors<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Middlesex Community College</span><br />Chapman Hall,<br />100 Training Hill Rd<br />noon &amp; 6pm<br />The public<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Middlesex County Community </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Foundation </span><br />Wadsworth Mansion<br />5pm speaker &amp;<br />discussion<br />(this is a fund raiser - admission is $20)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Middletown City Hall</span><br />Dekoven Dr.<br />Council Chamber<br />noon &amp; 6pm<br />The public<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Middletown Public Schools</span><br />various<br />Students and staff<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Parents Seeking Educational Excellence </span><br />Woodrow Wilson Middle School<br />370 Hunting Hill Avenue<br />7-8:30<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">PLTI and PTA </span><br />parents and friends.<br />All are welcome! <br />RSVP 638-1462<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Public Restaurant</span><br />337 Main Street<br />7 – 10 pm<br />Jazz &amp; discussions.<br />Donations to benefit the food pantry.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Russell Library </span><br />Hubbard Room<br />123 Broad Street<br />Noon &amp; 6pm<br />Open to the public<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Senior Affairs Senior Center</span>,<br />150 Williams St.<br />Noon<br />Seniors<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />Village at South Farms</span><br />645 Saybrook Rd<br />Residents<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wesleyan</span><br />Usdan Center<br />Wyllys Avenue<br />10 am<br />The public<br /> <br /> <br /> The following groups were involved in planning Middletown Community Conversations, and while they will not conduct separate conversations, they encourage their members to be involved in conversations at other locations.<br /><br />Altrusa <br />American Legion <br />Arts Community Groups <br />Aware <br />Boy Scouts of America <br />Buddhist Community <br />Chamber of Commerce <br />Civitan<br />Coalition for Affordable Housing <br />CT Coalition to End Homelessness <br />CT Housing Coalition <br />CT Partnership for Strong Communities <br />Cross Street A.M.E. Zion Church <br />Girl Scouts of America <br />Hindu Community <br />Latino Policy Institute <br />League of Women Voters <br />Lions Club <br />Mercy Housing <br />Middlesex Coalition for Children <br />Middlesex County Branch ‐ NAACP <br />Middlesex County Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness <br />Middletown Clergy Association <br />Middletown Ministerial Alliance <br />Middletown Public Housing <br />Middletown United Fathers<br />Multicultural Committee <br />Nehemiah Housing <br />Parent Leader Training Institute <br />Partnership for Strong Communities <br />People with Disabilities <br />Rotary <br />St. Luke’s <br />St. Vincent DePaul <br />Village District<br />Westfield Residents Association Middletown Community Conversationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14961384066489685316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7311341511814615071.post-33893633150834599082009-01-13T13:29:00.000-08:002009-01-13T13:33:04.144-08:00Host/Facilitator guideProvided by Justin Carbonella<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Middletown Community Conversation</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Inaugural Celebration (Jan. 20, 2009)</span><br /><br />Additional Information Session for Host of Community Conversation<br />Thursday, January 15, 2009, Russell Library<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Introductions</span><br />Who are you, what agency do you represent?<br />Why did you decide to be a part of this initiative?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Principles of the Community Conversations</span><br />The idea is for the community to watch President Obama's inaugural address at 12 noon or at 6pm (or some other time) and participate in a facilitated community conversation. This gathering is not a political event. It is grassroots initiative to identify the assets that we all have and how we can deploy them in these difficult times. <br /><br />We will record the discussion and work to prioritize ideas that may help Middletown proactively contribute to and take advantage of this current moment in history.<br /><br />To do so, we are looking for locations all across the community to hold community conversations. Additionally, we are asking each site to adhere to the following principles:<br /><br />• Set the context<br />• Create hospitable space<br />• Explore questions that matter<br />• Encourage everyone’s contributions<br />• Connect diverse perspectives<br />• Listen together for insights<br />• Share collective discoveries<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Your role as hosts/facilitators</span><br />The role of each host and its facilitator will be to manage the community conversation at their site. We are allowing each site to determine what will work best for them as they follow the basic principles outlined above. You know your group and your constituents best while also understanding what resources you may have available to you. We also understand that these resources will change from site to site. The important thing is giving as many Middletown residents as possible a chance to join their fellow citizens and be a part of a conversation where everyone’s voice may be heard. Much of that comes with the ability of the host to create a comfortable environment that will allow for open and honest discussion. Imagine you were inviting a guest to your house, what you would do for them to make them feel welcomed?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What are the questions that matter?</span><br />“If I had an hour to solve a problem and my life depended on the solution, I would spend the first 55 minutes determining the proper question to ask, for once I know the proper question, I could solve the problem in less than five minutes.” – Albert Einstein<br /><br />“Questioning breaks open the stagnant, hardened shells of the present, opening up options to be explored” – Fran Peavey, Strategic Questioning<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Principals of Strategic Questions</span><br />• Be engaging, invite further learning, and assume the best of intentions in the hearer.<br />• Help the hearer move on the basis of their strengths, their logic about how change occurs, and their environment.<br />• Be asked at the right time, with a few simple words, and by someone whom the hearer truly respects.<br />• Be truly open (not be asked manipulatively, and/or in order to achieve a particular answer, and/or worded in a way that contains or suggests a solution)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Examples of strategic Questions</span><br />• How might we best get this done?<br />• What experiences are influencing how you perceive this issue?<br />• What might shift our situation for the better?<br />• What kinds of information, from what sources, do we value?<br />• How has change happened here in the past?<br />• How and why did this issue first surface? What’s change?<br />• How can we redesign “x” to be more efficient?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sample questions for your conversations</span><br />If “yes we can”, then what will I do?<br />Related to what will “I do”, what can we do together?<br />What resources do we need to make this happen?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Recording the conversation and looking for outcomes</span><br />The goal is to collect results that will culminate in an unprecedented document of what Middletown's citizens feel are the priorities for our City. The collective statement of needs and concerns is the first step toward effective change in our community. <br /><br />To do this we need a recorded document of what were the identified solutions and steps for a better Middletown at each conversation site. We are asking that a simple bulleted list of these solutions and steps is created for each question asked (or that come up at any point in the discussion). The information can be recorded as raw data and the host organization will not have to synthesis or analyze the material in any way.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Basic responsibilities for a recorder to consider:</span><br />• Record the group’s answers to each of the questions<br />• List key points (examples, elaborations) offered to flesh out or provide the rationale for the group’s answers to each of the agenda questions. Include name of person if they indicate they would like to be followed up with. <br />• Keep a parking lot list for issues that don’t directly address agenda topics<br />• Ask for clarification when something is unclear<br />• Review notes at the close of meeting, to clarify or fill in gaps in the record<br />• Record notes in a written document<br /><br /><br />For an example of what we are looking for feel free to visit the Youth Services website at www.middletownyouthservices.org click on “Developmental Assets Initiative” then “What’s Up With Our Kids Forum Series”. The 4/26 and 5/9 conversations have similar reporting forms to what we are looking for in terms of sharing data. Your group’s final document should include the following information as a heading to the document:<br /><br />group/organization involved<br />location of discussion<br />date and time<br />number of attendees<br /><br />If a group would also like to include a list of its attendees and their email addresses you include it in your final reports. Please note that the request for emails is so that the final document may be distributed back out to the community once complete. <br /><br /><br />Your recorded notes may be submitted to Justin Carbonella at carbonellaj@mps1.org or mailed to:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Justin Carbonella</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Middletown Youth Services Bureau </span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">370 Hunting Hill Ave</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Middletown, CT 06457</span><br /><br />Or be dropped off at the Youth Services Bureau offices located in Woodrow Wilson Middle School (located at the address directly above).Middletown Community Conversationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14961384066489685316noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7311341511814615071.post-60182515358895147192009-01-12T11:14:00.000-08:002009-01-12T11:17:47.507-08:00Welcome to Middletown Community ConversationsOn Tuesday January 20, 2009, using the inauguration of Barack Obama to the presidency as a catalyst, there will be dozens of coordinated community conversations happening in Middletown.<br /><br />We'd love to have you participate. We'd love to hear your ideas about the future of our community.<br /><br />Information will soon be available right here, about the places where you can find your neighbors and fellow community members talking about change, and how to achieve it.Middletown Community Conversationshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14961384066489685316noreply@blogger.com0